Rugby - Knapton loss hinders Kirkby effort (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Knapton loss hinders Kirkby effort

10:01am Thursday 14th April 2011 in Sport

Broughton Park 57,Kirkby Lonsdale 3.

KIRKBY knew Park would be looking for revenge for their defeat earlier in the year at Underley Park.

However, Kirkby set off confidently despute having to make changes to the side and forced a penatly which Close converted for an early lead.

Park gained a lot of ground with a long kickbut Kirkby brought the ball back upfield and then their injury hoodoo struck again.

Full back Knapton, a key figure in the side, put a good kicck through and then collapsed with an injured ankle.

As he was receiving attention on the touchline play continued and a hack on saw Park exploit Knapton's absence to score near the posts.O'Brien converted for a 7-3 lead.

Knapton could not continue and a quick short penalty added to Kirkby's woes, leading to an unconverted try.

A long run by Pakr wing Ade Titiloye was stopped just short of the line but Park kept the pressure on and scored a converted try.

Kirkby suffered another blow when Colin Marshall got a chest injury and though trying to continue, he eventually had to leave the field for a somehwat startled coach Steve Williams to make a comeback.

Park winger Duffy and the very fast Titiloye both scored tries to for a 31-3 half-time lead.

Kirkby dug deep at the start of the second half and despute Limbrick and McLeod playing out of position in the back row , they kept an increasing frustrated Park from scoring until a very good move brought a tryi n the corner.

Dowker was having a good game in the lineout but the Kirkby forwards were having a harder time than they had against most of the leading teams.

Another try brought the score to 43-3 and then a Pakr forward got a yellow card which seemed to even up things for a while.

But two late tries from Park's speedy backs saw the hosts avenege their earlier defeat.

* Despute being plundered for players the Second XV beat Upper Eden Boars to gain promotion.

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